Post Harvest Care and Handling

86
Post Harvest Care and Handling 1-800-Flowers.com, Inc. Las Vegas, NV Jay Winnerman Director North American Sales March 12, 2011

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Smithers-Oasis

Transcript of Post Harvest Care and Handling

Page 1: Post Harvest Care and Handling

Post Harvest Care and Handling

1-800-Flowers.com, Inc.

Las Vegas, NV

Jay Winnerman

Director North American Sales

March 12, 2011

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Quality Takes Commitment

• Worldwide research and development

• Trusted and used by florists throughout the globe

• Inventor and world leader of floral foam and post harvest products

• Most requested brand of floral foam

• Most recognized brand of flower food (Floralife – category leader)

• Most active and experienced R & D and product testing in the floral industry

• Committed to product and service excellence

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Things to Remember

• Quiz questions throughout the talk

• Raise your hand to answer - don’t blurt out what you think is right

• Feel free to ask questions during the talk

• Practices in post harvest care have changed

• Real vs. Ideal

• If you can eat it, so can bacteria

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Steps for Proper Post Harvest Care

• Why is Care and Handling Important?

• Inspection and Variety Knowledge

• The 3 Pillars of Cut Flower Care

1. Temperature

2. Time

3. Sanitation

• Cut Flower Processing & Hydration

• Flower Food

• Floral Foam

• Consumer Education

• Ethylene and Botrytis

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Why is care & handling so important?

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Why is Care & Handling Important?

• Flowers are a perishable commodity!

• Consumer satisfaction equals repeat customers and sales!

o Customers expect seven days of vase-life in their home

• Reduce scrap

o Proper care & handling can add between 2% to 4% of NET profit to your operation

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• Commissioned by Smithers-Oasis from

Prince & Prince Floral Market Research

• Survey developed in 1996 and implemented four times

o Historical data from 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2007

• Surveyed more than 5,000 floral buyers

across the US over a 10 year period

Why is Care & Handling Important?

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Influencing Customer Behavior

Based on a consumer study of 1,200 flower-buying households in the U.S., over 10

years and three surveys, consumers rated the following positive/negative influencers

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In the Mind of the Consumer

What will make or break your customer relationship?

Three factors:

1. Value

2. Over-Priced

3. Poor Quality

What keeps customers in your shop?

• Sales Assistance/ Courtesy

• Delivery of Custom Orders

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Receiver Perceptual Map

Source: AFE, Dr. Yue – July 2010

In the Mind of the Consumer

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Inspection and Cultivar Knowledge

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Name that car!

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Choosing the Right Cultivar

• A cultivar is the name of the

flower

i.e. Cherry Love is the

cultivar name for a kind of

rose

• Many postharvest problems

can be solved by choosing

the correct cultivar

• Order by cultivar name, not

by color

Vase-life study with 4 different

rose cultivars (in days)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

'Emblem' 'Osiana' 'Kardinal' 'Sonia'

Water

Floralife Clear

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Inspection

• Inspect your flowers upon arrival.

• Invest in a probe-type thermometer to measure the

temperature of the flower heads in the box upon arrival.

• If you have received damaged or unusable flowers, notify

your supplier.

o Have the labels on the end of the box hand as these

labels have important information pertaining to the

farm and airway bill that helps identify and correct the

problem.

• Take notes of which flower varieties work best for you,

which varieties last the longest, which varieties open or do

not open, so you can fine tune your buying.

Source: Dr. George Staby

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The 3 Pillars of Cut Flower Care:

Time ● Temperature ● Sanitation

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What is important when talking about

proper care & handling?

The 3 pillars of cut flower care:

1. Temperature

2. Time

3. Sanitationwww.chainoflifenetwork.org

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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Temperature

• Temperature has the most influence on vase-

life as it effects the metabolism rate of the

flower – low temperature slows metabolism

• High humidity slows water loss

• Hydrated flowers are healthy flowers

• High temperatures have a negative effect on

the vase-life of flowers

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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Temperature

Cool chain should not be disrupted.

From the field to the Point-Of-Sale, a working cold chain is very important to assure good quality and maximum vase-life.

Grower Importer Wholesaler Florist Shop

Transport Transport Transport

The optimum storage temperature for most flowers is between 33 – 38 F°.

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

0 C 12 C 18 C

Respiration rate Heat production

Temperature

• Cut flowers respire 3 x more at 54°F than at 34°F

• Increased respiration rate leads to shorter vase-life

• Respiration creates additional heat

32F 54F 65F

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Influence of temperture on vase life in days

Temperature and Relative Air Humidity During Storage

• A relative air humidity between 80 - 93% slows down the aging process

• Cut flowers should ALWAYS be stored in a cool environment between 33 and 38°F!

• Exception: Tropicals should be stored between 56 and 60°F

39F 45F 68F

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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Pick the proper temperature range for a cooler?

• 39-42 degrees F

• 33-38 degrees F

• 41-45 degrees F

• 33-38 degrees F

Quiz Question

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Which is not a true

about a properly maintained cooler?

• It decreases damaging effects of ethylene

• It increases respiration

• It increases flower life

• It increases respiration

Quiz Question

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Time

• Keep flowers away from heats as much as possible

• Keep the time outside water / solution as short as possible

• Develop standardized procedures so quality does not become a coincidence – plan your time!

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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• FACT: Bacteria clogs stems.

• FACT: Clogged stems lead to hydration

problems and bent neck.

• FACT: Bacteria produce ethylene.

• FACT: Fungi are opportunists.

• FACT: The effectiveness of all post

harvest products is dependent

on a clean environment.

Fungicide, bactericide, cleaner is needed.

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

Sanitation

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1. Cut flowers were stored in vases for two weeks.

2. Water was discarded.

3. One vase was not washed. One was washed with water. One was washed

with DCD.

4. Flowers were put all three vases with clean water only.

Not cleaned Cleaned with water Cleaned with DCD

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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• Microscopic small organisms (0.1 to 400 Microns)

with high growth rates

• Growth rate is dependent upon temperature and

availability of food

• Vase water and flower stems offer a good growth

environment for bacteria

Effect of Bacteria

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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Effect of BacteriaBacteria block the Xylem of the Flowers

Result: The water uptake gets disturbed and the vase-life is shortened.

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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Effect of Bacteria

• The vase water becomes dirty

• The vase water smells rotten

• Vase-life is shortened

Low Bacterial Growth

High Bacterial Growth

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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• Keep all buckets and cutters clean– Research has shown that buckets left dirty for four days can

reduce rose vase-life 20%.

• D.C.D. keeps buckets disinfected for several days

– Bleach looses it’s disinfecting ability after only a few hours.

• D.C.D. is less expensive than bleach per use

• D.C.D. will not stain clothing

• Only government approved bucket cleaner

How can you control bacterial growth?

Use a Flower Food Solution!

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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• Bleach is not you best cleaning agent

o Sanitizes but does not CLEAN!

• Bleach’s shelf life is very short (1 hour to 4 hours) and has no

residual effects

o It kills bacteria immediately but it does not continue fighting and killing

bacteria

• Use a cleaning detergent, not bleach

o Similar cleaning detergents are used in

hospitals as disinfectants

• Clean your cooler at least once every quarter

(3 months) with a cleaning detergent

Source: Dr. George Staby

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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At which stages do the three pillars

have an influence on flower life?

Grower

Wholesaler

Florist

Consumer

The Three Pillars of Cut Flower Care

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Is bleach an effective bacteria killer?

• Yes!

Quiz Question

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How long does bleach kill bacteria in a bucket?

• A few hours

• 2 to 3 days

• 1 week

• A few hours

Quiz Question

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Cut Flower Processing and Hydration

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How should flowers be handled?

• Ensure all containers are clean – Use Floralife® Cleaner

• Strip only the foliage that will fall below the solution level

• Cut the stems by ¾ to 1” with a sharp and clean knife

• Place the flowers in a cold water flower food solution. Use only

Clean Buckets. Cold means as cold as your cooler temperature –

not tap water

• Do not place the flowers in direct sunlight.

Keep them away from draughts

• Do not place the flowers close to fruits or

vegetables

Cut Flower Processing and Hydration

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Which leaves should be removed and why?

Usually leaves contain high loads of bacteria

and increase the bacterial growth in the water.

• Only remove leaves under the

water level

• Above the water level only

remove damaged leaves.

Leaves are important for the

respiration of the flower and as

energy depot

Cut Flower Processing and Hydration

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Always re-cut the stems. But why?

A flower always tries to take up

water and nutrients. When you

remove a flower from the water,

the flower sucks air. The air

bubbles block the Xylem.

Also bacteria can block the

stems. Both are main reasons

for bent neck.

Always use a sharp and clean

knife or scissor which cut the

stems and does not crush

them.

Capillars (Xylem)

Cut Flower Processing and Hydration

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• Movement of water through the plant

• No roots, No leaves, Big problem

• Xylem and Phloem

• Transpiration – evaporation of water from plants

o Light

o Temperature

o Humidity

Vase

solution

Cross Section

Phloem- distributes food made in

the leaves to all other parts of the

plant.

Xylem- distributes water up

through the plant.

What is hydration?

Cut Flower Processing and Hydration

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Hydration Solutions

Quick Dip

• Pour into container 1 inch deep

• Cut flowers

• Dip stem ends in quick dip solution for 2 seconds

• Place flowers in flower food

Hydraflor 100

•Mix 1/2 oz into 1 gallon of water

•Cut flowers

•Place flowers in Hydraflor 100 solution for 1 hour

•Remove and place in flower food

Hydration solutions acclimate your flowers to take food.

•Stem Un-pluggers

•Acidifiers

Cut Flower Processing and Hydration

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Which of these isn’t recommended when

hydrating flowers?

• Re-cut stems underwater

• Use a hydration solution per the manufacturer’s direction

• Place flowers in warm water to speed hydration

• First and third points above

• All of the above

• None of the above

• First and third points above

Quiz Question

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Flower Food

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50% of florists don’t use flower food!

25% of florists who do use flower food incorrectly!

25% of florists use flower food correctly!

Source: Perishables

research organization

Flower Food

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Flower Food

• Sugar: The food source

• Acidifiers: To lower ph and increase solution uptake

• Stem-unpluggers: To keep the stem free flowing

What’s in a flower food?

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Storage Solutions

Provides Hydration

Lower in Sugar

Acidifier to adjust the pH of water

Floralife Crystal Clear®Floralife Clear 2X Professional®

Vase Solutions

Provides Hydration

Higher in Sugar

Acidifier to adjust the pH of water

Aluminum Sulfate – opalescent or pearly when mixed (Floralife® Original)

Citric Acid – clear when mixed (Floralife® Crystal Clear)

Flower Food

Types of Flower Food

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Effects of

Flower Food

Water Flower Food

Day 7

• Photosynthesis makes

sugar

• Very low photosynthesis

due to low light levels and

not enough leaves

Flower Food

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0% 25% 50% 100%

Important: Correct Dosing!

Flower Food

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What’s the better investment?

• A $300.00 investment can pay for itself in a short time through reduced flower

losses, increased quality and labor savings

• Every creditable flower shop should have a dispensing system. It’s as

important as the computer, delivery truck and cooler

A $300 dispensing system? A $1700 decorative wrap for the van?

Flower Food

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Or, make a dip-stick!

Always measure your flower food!

Flower Food

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•Works on all bulb crops

•Stops leaf yellowing in alstroemaria

and lilies

•Keeps tulip stems from bending

•Improves vase-life on all your bulb

crops

•Available in a 10 lb powder and 10

gram packets

Specialty Flower Foods

•Increased vase-life (20%+) than

regular flower food formulas

•Brilliant flower color

•Solution stays totally clear until

gone

•Can be used on all flowers

Flower Food

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True or false:

7-UP mixed half and half in water

is better for flowers than plain water?

• True• Sugar ( Food)

• Citric Acid (Acidifier)

• Calcium Disodium EDTA ( Stem-unpluggers)

Quiz Question

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True or False:

Flower food is just as effective

at half, regular, or double strength?

• False

Quiz Question

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OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife –

a post-harvest product!

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• Flowers live longer in a vase of water

• Water in a vase is better than floral foam for flowers

• All floral foams are the same, buy the cheapest

• Arranging flowers in foam takes more time than a vase arrangement

• Certain flowers don’t last in floral foam

• Floral foam isn’t good for all flower types

Myths & Perceptions in Our Industry

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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We are about to shatter

these myths & perceptions!

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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• Improves flower life – by up to 50% compared to other design mechanics

• Beats every competitive floral foam on flower life – proven in the lab

• Maximizes flower life for nearly EVERY type of flower (even the problematic ones)

• Roses last as long or longer than in a vase

• Prevents stem burn, petal drop, browning and bent-neck

Introducing OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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• Keeps flowers living longer even when consumers don’t water

• For the first time, meets or beats flower life in a vase of water

• Lasts longer even if you forget to water

• Color stable, so no more brown foam

• Mold spores; no more!

Introducing OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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DAY 10

Seeing is Believing!

OASIS® Floral Foam MaxlifeADVANTAGE Plus Floral Foam

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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Day 7 Results – Susan Clarke

Seeing is Believing!

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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Day 11

Seeing is Believing!

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

ADVANTAGE Plus Floral Foam OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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Advantage Plus on Day 7 Advantage Plus on Day 15

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife on Day 7 OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife on Day 15

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife Day 7 OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife on Day 15

Syndicate Aquafoam on Day 7 Syndicate Aquafoam on Day 15

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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See Maxlife work at Youtube.com/OASISFloral

http://www.youtube.com/OASISFloral#p/u/0/rKJ8wBQmykU

• Provides longer life for flowers – up to 50 percent longer

than any previous floral foam

.

• For the first time, the only floral foam in the industry proven

to meet or beat flower life in a vase

• This singular benefit, maximizing flower life, addresses the number-one desire

of consumers who purchase flowers

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife is on YouTube!

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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Seeing is Believing – No More Browning!

OASIS® Floral Foam MaxlifeOther floral foam

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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Current Floral Foam - Mold OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife - No Mold

Seeing is Believing – No More Mold Spores!

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife Packaging

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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Method – Key Messaging to the Florist

Retails for $49.99

Lasted 10 days

Customer pays

$4.99 a day!

Retails for $49.99

Lasted 6 days

Customer pays

$8.33 a day!

For only 10¢ more, your arrangement will last 50% longer!

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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No brown, no burn, no bend.

NO KIDDING.

• Flowers live longer in OASIS® Floral Foam

Maxlife than in any previous floral foam – up

to 50% longer

• OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife is the first and

only floral foam proven to provide as long,

or longer, flower life than flowers in a vase

of water

• Prevents premature petal burn, wilting,

browning and petal drop

• Stops premature bent neck in flowers with

soft stems

• Stops leaves from premature yellowing,

browning and falling off stems

• Prevents stem burn

Day 1 MaxLife

Day 8 MaxLife Day 8 Water

Day 1 Water

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

Method – Key Messaging to the Florist

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Floral Foam Basics

• Hydrate all flowers before arranging in

foam

• Soak foam in flower food

• Never forcibly submerge foam

• Change soaking solution regularly

• All foams are not the same - remember

that foam is a post harvest product like

flower foods

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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Presentation Method Under 35 35 - 44 45 - 54 55 - 64 65 & Older

Flowers arranged in a

ceramic or other non-

glass container. 4.0 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.0

Flowers arranged in a

basket. 3.8 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.9

Flowers in a glass vase.* 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.5

Flowers sent in a box for

recipient to arrange.* 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.7 2.9

Values are mean ratings with scale of 1= dislike to 5 = like.

* indicates statistically significant differences across groups.

Prince and Prince Consumer Survey:

OASIS® Floral Foam Maxlife

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Consumer Education

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• Educate your staff to educate customers on

how to take care of their flowers

•Inform them as to what to expect from

individual varieties

• Give your customers at least 10-grams of

flower food and explain the importance of

properly mixing

o 10-grams makes only 1-quart of solution

o 5-grams makes only 1-pint of solution

•Sell flowers by variety or cultivar names

Educate Your Customers

Consumer Education

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Ethylene and Botrytis

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• Ethylene has been reported to contribute 30% of all post harvest dump

in horticulture crops.

• Ethylene damage can come from ethylene produced internally or from

external sources.

• Ethylene is the death hormone.

•Fruit ripening

•Abscission (petal

drop)

•Increases respiration

•Growth promotion

•Flower Initiation

What is ethylene and why do I care?

What does ethylene do?

Ethylene and Botrytis

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Ethylene Sources

Internal

• Plants, fruits and vegetables produce

ethylene

External

• From other flowers

• Plants and vegetables

• Bacteria

• Burning organic material

• Cigarette smoke

• Exhaust

Ethylene and Botrytis

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Major Cut Flowers that are Ethylene Sensitive

• Many cultivars of Roses!

• Alstroemeria

• Carnations

• Delphinium/Larkspur

• Snapdragon

• Lily

• Stock

• Many more!

Ethylene ExposureNo Ethylene

Ethylene and Botrytis

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1. Air FiltersPositive: Very Inexpensive Negative: Not effective

2. TemperaturePositive: Slows effects internal & External ethylene Negative : Only effective while exposed

3. Ethylene Action Inhibitors - STS / MCP-EthylblocPositive: Inhibits ethylene action Negative: MCP requires containment field to be effective.

S.T.S. requires reclaiming units to remove heavy metals

Tools to Prevent Ethylene

Do not store produce or food with your flowers!

Ethylene and Botrytis

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Botrytis

• Look for free water inside sleeves. This would likely indicate a temperature problem.

• Free water promotes botrytis infection.

• Look for legions where the flowers contact the sleeve.

Ethylene and Botrytis

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Which of these is not true about ethylene?

• It’s a gas

• It increases respiration of the flower

• Ethylene does not affect roses

• Ethylene has negative effects on some plants

• Ethylene does not affect

roses

Quiz Question

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Floral Accounting 101:

Doing the Business Math

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Arrangement #1:

OASIS® Floral Foam flower design in woven basket container with Floralife® flower food

Retail price point: $37.50

Material Cost to the Florist:

•2 Stems Lilies @ $1.29 per stem = $2.58

•3 stem Mini-carnations @ $0.40 per stem = $1.20

•3 Stems Hypericum @ $0.80 per stem = $2.40

•3 stems leather leaf fern @ $0.72 per stem = $2.16

•1 woven basket container @ $2.00

•Ribbon (not pictured) @ $0.50

•1/3 brick OASIS® floral foam @ $0.21

•1 quart/liter Floralife Crystal Clear® flower food solution soaked in foam and in container @ $.06

All Occasion Flower Arrangement

•Total cost of flowers = $8.34

•Total woven basket cost = $2.00

• Ribbon = $0.50

•Total OASIS® Floral Foam cost = $0.21

•Total Floralife® Flower Food cost = $0.06

Grand total material costs = $11.11

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Do the business math!

Design Materials Cost % of Design Arrangement Cost

Flowers $8.34 75.07%

Basket $2.00 18.00%

Ribbon $0.50 4.50%

OASIS® Floral Foam $0.21 1.89%

Floralife® Flower Food $0.06 0.54%

Grand Total $11.11 100%

Money saved by using a lower priced foam at 20% less,

for example, would be only $0.042, or 0.38% of total material costs!

The difference in using a quality floral foam is insignificant for the benefits gained.

All Occasion Flower Arrangement

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Arrangement #2:

Fresh flower design in glass vase

with Floralife® Flower Food

Retail Price Point: $37.50

Material Cost to the Florist:

• Premade bouquet of mixed flowers @ $7.99 a bunch

• Ribbon @ $0.50

• Glass vase @ $2.50

• 3 pints(1.5 liter) Floralife Crystal Clear® flower food @

$0.09

Grand Total Cost: $11.08

Glass Floral Arrangements

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Do the business math!

Design Materials Cost

% of Design

Arrangement Cost

Flowers $7.99 72.12%

Glass Vase $2.50 22.56%

Ribbon $0.50 4.51%

Floralife® Flower Food $0.09 0.81%

Grand Total $11.08 100%

Not using flower food in an arrangement can reduce flower life by more than half and

saves you less than 1% of the cost of the materials.

Wouldn’t your customer enjoy their arrangement for an additional 3-5 days or more?

Think of the repeat sales opportunities!

Glass Floral Arrangements

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• Care and Handling is important because consumers want and

expect QUALITY from a florist!

• The 3 Pillars of Cut Flower Care

1. Temperature / Cold Chain

2. Time

3. Sanitation

• Know your cultivars and inspect for quality.

• Proper flower processing and proper use of flower food aids in

customer satisfaction!

• Floral foam is now a post-harvest product and can equal or exceed

the vase-life of flowers in water

• Ethylene and botrytis have a negative influence on vase-life

• Don’t forget to educate the consumer!

Summary

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Questions?